 Editor in Chief Bill   | 19 Feb 2018 10:32 p.m. PST |
Under cover of darkness, U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG-71) slipped through the Bosporus Strait and into the Black Sea on Friday. The next day USS Carney (DDG-64) joined Ross… link |
| Cacique Caribe | 19 Feb 2018 11:09 p.m. PST |
Oh brother. Why in the world? Dan |
| Editor in Chief Bill | 20 Feb 2018 5:42 a.m. PST |
I suppose it's a "freedom of navigation" thing… |
| zoneofcontrol | 20 Feb 2018 6:59 a.m. PST |
"2 US DDs in Black Sea" When I first saw this I thought of Sherman tanks. Duh ! |
pzivh43  | 20 Feb 2018 10:30 a.m. PST |
Yes, freedom of navigation cruise. If you don't exercise the right of free passage thru international waters, a county (like, say, Russia for the Black Sea, or China, for the South China Sea area) could have a claim that the area is internal waters. We've been doing this and similar for years. No big deal, but necessary. |
| Cacique Caribe | 20 Feb 2018 10:51 a.m. PST |
Pzivh43 Got it. Good to know. Thanks. Dan |
| Choctaw | 20 Feb 2018 11:57 a.m. PST |
I hope they don't collide with anything. |
| Begemot | 20 Feb 2018 2:16 p.m. PST |
Last time I looked at a map, the Black Sea is bordered by the following countries: Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia. Assuming that Russia is not the only country with ships in the Black Sea, then I don't quite see why the US Navy needs to establish the "freedom of navigation". Wouldn't the other bordering countries' own ships do that? |
| Tgunner | 20 Feb 2018 4:08 p.m. PST |
The oceans and the seas are the global commons. We trade everywhere and with nearly everyone. Also Georgia and Turkey are allies and trading partners. We have the right to be there, so why not. |
| EnemyAce | 20 Feb 2018 4:28 p.m. PST |
Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria are all NATO members and make up close to 50% of the BS coastline, so it seems not only appropriate, but necessary for the US and other NATO members to train and drill there. |
| Striker | 20 Feb 2018 5:32 p.m. PST |
I thought there was a special request or notice that had to be given when transiting the Bosporus? |
| Cacique Caribe | 22 Feb 2018 5:01 p.m. PST |
Turkish to the left of me
Turkish to the right
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you … Dan
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| KniazSuvorov | 22 Feb 2018 5:28 p.m. PST |
I don't quite see why the US Navy needs to establish the "freedom of navigation". Wouldn't the other bordering countries' own ships do that? "Freedom of navigation" exercises conducted by the US Navy have nothing to do with NATO, or with merchant shipping, American or otherwise. They are conducted for the sole purpose of reminding everyone --allies and enemies alike-- that the USN goes where it wants to. It's essentially old-school gunboat diplomacy hiding behind a thin veneer of international law. That said, it isn't necessarily a bad thing. |
